You can NOW talk about "That Team"

I was not impressed at all by MSU today in the few short segments I saw. That being said, I wasn't all that impressed by our D either. We're going to need to put up quite a few points.

How are they 1 up on us ? ... and don't you dare say because they won last year or i will go next door and smack old Mrs Hanson in the face.

At least Sparty didnt disappoint their fans in the usual fashion of starting off well and then laying an egg. At least there is no suspense this year. And no, we will not provide the salvaging moment of their season.

I have a feeling that Sparty and the rest of the Big Ten sees us as a Straw Man team that's been built up by polls and the media. That may work in their favor, since many teams may still view us as very beatable. Judging by our defensive play today, I may be inclined to agree with them on some level. But, I'm going to enjoy 4-0 for now and worry about Little Brother later.

The problem is that now they are on a losing streak, we are going in there favored, and that they will be amped up to play us- They threw for almost 400 yards today combined! They've got a couple receiving threats, which means that they will isolate whoever Warren's not covering... The questions I've got are: 1) can the pass rush improve at all? 2) will there be any semblance of better coverage by people not named Donovan Warren? Which one of those is more likely? Also, let's hope that Tate is OK for next week, I don't think we're ready to win a road game with Denard Robinson

backed into a corner. Everything will be alright if they win next week. This is going to be a monumental test for this Michigan team. PS .....find Blair White and put a man on him goddamit. Also Sparty won't quit and will play hard right to the end, thats a trait that is new to the Spartan nation. Be ready for a 60 minute battle.

AH, this game. Given that a good portion of my family went to Michigan Agricultural College, I detest those jokers ALMOST as much as O$U.

I will just comment on what really stuck with me today. 1) Everyone always talks about how important the o-line and d-line are in terms of winning the game and controlling the trenches. Today I saw this at a more fundamental level....IE Center-QB exchange completing destroying the continuity of the offense. Rhythm, timing, and repetition are often underrated in how these games play out, but today was the first time I processed how much I take thinks like a simple snap for granted, and how much losing a starting center can throw a team off, especially if they don't have the depth to cover the loss at the spot. 2) This is a game we would have found a way to lose last year....this year we found a way to win....that is what clutch qb play (primarily from Tate, but also Shoelaces...sweet throw over the middle to keep a drive alive) can do. Also, it is fun to watch these guys gel. Clearly, both offensively (we go into lulls) and defensively (no depth) we are not yet there, but this team has a bunch of belief and we can all dispel the "Guys aren't buying in to the RR system" bs that was circulating in the press before the year started. Whereas in the ND game "ice water in his veins Tate" led the team to a great win, this game was really a team overcoming adversity and a key offensive line injury to get a win. 3) The leadership and unselfishness of Tate Forcier. After getting injured he got up, ran off the field, grabbed Robinson, and shouted some words of encouragement to him about lifting the team up. You always hear the cliche about there "not being animosity" or there being a "team atmosphere" amongst players competing for positions....but here you really saw just that. Tate made some mistakes in the first half (especially that yakety sax interception) and could have put his head down when laces went it to replace him on the next drive. Same thing after the shoulder injury. But instead, he is all about the team, realizing how important D-Rob is for the team and embracing him as his alter ego. 4) This one is obvious....The defense has a long way to go. I really am pulling for Booboo, but I think it is clear that he can't cut it right now. I hope its an injury thing, cuz he is a good kid and I hate coming down on players as "goats" and want all these kids to succeed at Michigan. I try to reserve most of my anger to for the coaches and gameplan (IE the late Lloyd Carr years) but Cissoko's size is just such a liability at that position right now. The dropoff from Warren to Booboo is huge, and he will continue to get picked on all year. The move to Floyd was the right one IMO. While he missed that one play while going for a pick/pass breakup and allowed the IU TD....he was at least in the area to make the play instead of giving the receiver a 7 yard cushion. JT is much bigger and I think we really need that opposite of Warren, otherwise teams will completely expose the size advantage all day. We don't have good enough LBs to put a safety back in coverage to mirror Booboo's man....we need all the run support D we can get. Cissoko is also probably in his own head right now, and when a CB loses confidence it's the worst thing that can happen to him because he is no longer reacting but over-thinking. At a position like CB where you are often on an island that's not a good place to be. 4) I still have no idea how this new system (offense and defense) will work against "meat machine" teams like Wisconsin, Iowa, and to some degree OSU and PSU with their big lines. Right now we still don't have the talent and depth wanted at all those positions, but even when we do will our super fast super thin lineman, lbs, and safeties be able to stop a rolling thunder team. If there was one thing about Lloyd's teams it was (you may be able to out-coach him, you may be able to beat his teams by spreading them out, but gosh-darn it, you would not beat him up the middle with 3 yards and a cloud of dust). That's why we owned PSU and Wisconsin for so long...Our meat machine was slightly meatier than theirs and eventually the laws of force and momentum favored us. 5) Random Thoughts: These games are a lot of fun to watch because speed is exciting. Carlos Brown is really fast. Minor is a beast and runs angry, like someone just slapped his mama. Indiana's coach (The inbred corn-farmer guy on the sideline) throws an awesome tantrum...gum chuck included.

Indianna played tough today, and I think MSU will do the same. We're going to have to win in shootout style as in today's game and the one with ND. These games are enough to give me ulcers. The D has to tighten up. One of these games we're not going to score in the 30's, but I don't think it'll be next week. Braylon 5 hour... nice pic.

and that was playing very poorly for the most part. i dunno. not a bad time to be a little confident. (once again, the d played good enough to win) ye hah!

Lookin' like they are going to get their chance. Can you say Motor City Bowl? I know you can.